A Harmattan is a West African trade wind picking up fine dust particles on its passage over the desert; meaning ‘tears your breath apart’.
The lawn was frosted.
Some rabbit or hare
had marched across it
and printed there
Some rabbit or hare
had marched across it
and printed there
his early morse,
gone by noon.
A stabled horse
sent a plume
gone by noon.
A stabled horse
sent a plume
of morning breath
across the canal.
News of a death -
my brother Cathal
across the canal.
News of a death -
my brother Cathal
killed at seventeen,
so long ago
I believed in heaven.
Frost or snow?
so long ago
I believed in heaven.
Frost or snow?
I laid my hand
on a cold bonnet
and felt that sand
had landed on it,
on a cold bonnet
and felt that sand
had landed on it,
lifted overnight
by prevailing wind.
Could that be right?
Had I lost my mind?
by prevailing wind.
Could that be right?
Had I lost my mind?
A northern frost
the night he died
and wind-borne dust
filming the car red?
the night he died
and wind-borne dust
filming the car red?
It little matters
at this distance.
Time scatters
details in a dance
at this distance.
Time scatters
details in a dance
of grief and art.
A whirlwind air
descends to tear
your breath apart.
-- originally published in Wales Arts Review
A whirlwind air
descends to tear
your breath apart.
-- originally published in Wales Arts Review
